Syrian refugee fair draws hundreds to Old Exhibition Grounds in Winnipeg

A Winnipeg fair for Syrian refugees had a successful turnout on Saturday, said City Councillor Cindy Gilroy.

Hundreds of newcomers and volunteers showed up at the Old Exhibition Grounds on Sinclair Street, now home to the North Centennial Community Centre.

• Starting over: One Syrian refugee family's story, in their own words

"We had people arriving here at 11 a.m. and this really didn't get started until 1 p.m.," Gilroy said.

"That goes to show how popular this was and how many people wanted to come out today."

Along with a bouncy castle, jigging, hoop dancing and traditional Arabic dances, 30 information booths provided information about services to refugees ranging from public library access to what to do in case of an emergency.

"I'm hoping that we're really connecting with families, getting them the supports that they need," she said.

"We're here today to welcome a thousand refugees that have come to Winnipeg to make it their home."

Federal Immigration Minister John McCallum and his provincial counterpart Ian Wishart also attended Saturday's fair, said Gilroy.

Among the 25,000 Syrian refugees Canada has accepted, 1,000 have settled in Manitoba with just over 800 choosing to live in Winnipeg, according to a Social Planning Council of Winnipeg news release.

Organizers said they plan to turn Saturday's fair into an annual event for all newcomers to Winnipeg.